How much torque do I actually need in a cordless impact wrench?

For automotive lug nuts and most DIY work, roughly 400-700 ft-lbs of real-world breakaway torque handles the job, and several reviewers note that lug nuts rarely require more. The 1,000-1,500+ ft-lb figures advertised on many tools are 'max breakaway' or 'nut-busting' numbers measured under ideal conditions, and specialist subreddit threads repeatedly caution that budget brands' headline torque ratings tend to be optimistic. Match the tool to your hardest task rather than the biggest number on the box.